What is your parenting style?

Have you ever thought about what type of parent you are? Have you ever thought about how you treat your children? Do you ever stop and listen to yourself when you are talking to or scolding your children? I have. And sometimes I do not like what I am hearing. Most of us were raised a certain way and we are raising our children the same way we were raised. Without putting any thought about why we act and react the way we do. I am not saying this is a bad thing, I am only wondering if you this is what you do? Have you ever wondered if you were doing something wrong? That what you are doing isn't working for your family? I have. I have read many parenting books, listened to preachers and christian speakers on the subject, and read my bible. I have watched the way others have treated their kids and sometimes have tried it out on my bunch. The problem is the only thing I gained from most of it was disappointment and confusion. One expert says to do things one way, another tells you to do things a different way.

I have rambled on to say this: Your family, your self, your spouse, your kids are unique! God never makes things the same. Look at the snowflakes, the trees, the flowers, the birds. They are all different. God likes diversity and uniqueness. Nothing He made is the same as anything else, even within the same species. So God does not expect us to be just like everyone else. He wants us to be different and He wants us to treat our children special because that's what they are to Him. So the next time you find yourself frustrated or confused about how to handle a certain situation or behavior, ask God for guidance. Sometimes He will use a friend or a preacher. But it is impossible to model your family completely after someone else. He wants you to be the parent and person He created you to be. He also wants you to let your children be who He created them to be, even if they are different from you or everyone in your family. God has a purpose for you and them. It is your job to seek His face and will for yourself and your children and God will take care of the rest.

The other thing I want to say is not easy to hear. Most parents do not want to believe it. But that is that you only have so much control over that little person that God has put in your care. You can introduce God, Jesus, healthy habits, good manners, etc, etc, etc. But you cannot make them believe the way you do or act the way you want. All you can do is introduce it and more importantly live the way you want them to act in front of them because they will be the first ones to know if you walk the walk and do not just talk the talk. I am not only talking about modeling Jesus but all other things as well. Respect, are you respectful to them? Patience, are you patient with their immaturity? Kindness, are you kind to them and others? More often than not, the very behaviors that your children do that bother you the most are the ones they learned from you. It is not fun seeing your flaws in your children. That is God's way of waking you up to your own behaviors that need tweeking. Sometimes it is not the child that needs disciplining but the parent that needs to change their behavior first, then if you are lucky, the children will follow.

Now go hug your children and start working on yourself. You and your family will be so glad you did!